Shelf supports



H. H. SACHAU SHELF SUPPORTS Dec. 5, 1967 v Filed March 21, 1966 Wm M N NE T VA u m m 7 United States Patent 3,356,328 SHELF SUPPORTS Helmuth H. Sachau, 197 30th St., New Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 535,932 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-245) v The invention relates to improvements in shelf supports and more particularly to a shelf support of the type having an endwise projecting key adapted to be lockingly engaged at any desired level within a vertically channeled upright or post which may be attached to a wall or fixed within or to a framework composed of similar uprights.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a shelf support which can be firmly locked at any desired point vertically of the supporting upright without the use of a tool of any kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide shelf supporting means wherein the adjustment thereof with respect to the basic supporting member includes interlocking ribs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shelf support having a simple, easily adjusted and efiicient bracing member providing support for the shelf support at a point intermediate of its width.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelf support wherein the bracing member provides the means for moving said locking key to and from its locking position.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing my improved shelf support in process of being attached to one channeled part of a two channeled post or upright, the bracing member having not yet been pivoted to its operative position,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 in its fully erected condition,

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan View of FIGURE 1, the post being shown in cross section,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing the relative positions of the shelf support and the channel upright during the entry of the shelf support key into the channel of the upright,

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the shelf support key in locked position in the channel of the upright,

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of part of the channel and the support key, the support key being positioned prior to locking,

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fractional side view of the outer end of the locking mechanism of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 8 is a sectional end elevation of the device of FIGURE 7, taken on the line 8-8,

FIGURE 9 is a sectional end elevation of the device of FIGURE 7, taken on the line 9-9,

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view through two single channeled uprights supporting a shelf support equipped with a key at each of its ends.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES 1-9, wherein a complete embodiment of the invention is shown, a shelf support unit 1 includes a body member 2, a locking mechanism 3, a vertical supporting post 4, and a covering member 5 for the body member 2.

The body member 2 comprises a pair of spaced-apart, normally vertical side-walls 6 and 7 having normally horizontal upper edges 8 and 9 respectively and having lower edges 10 and 11 respectively which incline evenly upwardly from their outer vertical edges 12 and 13 respec- "ice tively to their respective vertical inner edges 14 and 15.

The side-walls 6 and 7 are maintained in fixed relation by means of a U-section channel member 16, the sidewalls 17 and 18 of which are permanently attached to the inner surfaces of the side walls 6 and 7 respectively by welding or similar means. It should be noted that in a preferred embodiment, the side walls 17 and 18 of the channel member 16 converge slightly in the horizontal plane towards their outer edges, thereby causing the side walls 6 and 7 to converge similarly. The upper edges 19 and 20 of the side walls 17 and 18 respectively, coincide with the upper edge 8 and 9 of the side walls 6 and 7 so that the transverse wall 21 of the channel member 16 is also normally horizontal and parallel with the plane through the edges 8 and 9.

As means to attach the body member 2 in selective vertically moveable engagement with the vertical post 4 there is provided a substantially T-shaped key 22, the head 23 of which is adapted to lie outside and transversely of the outer vertical edges 12 and 13, and the preferably circular cross-section stem 24 of which is projected inwards to lie below and substantially contiguous with the transverse wall 21 of the channel member 16.

The stem 24 is rebent at its inner end to form an elongated loop as shown at 25, the end 26 of the stem 24 being permanently attached to the stem 24 by welding or the like as shown at 27. It should be noted that the inner end 28 of the stem 24 forming the bight of the loop 25 is adapted to lie outside the inner edges 14 and 15 of the body member 2 and that the sides 29 and 30 thereof are substantially parallel and in close sliding engagement with the inner surfaces of the side walls 6 and 7.

As illustrated particularly in FIGURES 7 and 9 a right triangular cut out 31 is formed in the lower part of the inner edge 14 of the side wall 6, the apex of which is deformed into the major arc of a part-circular hole 32. A similar cut-out 33 in the inner edge 15 of the side wall 7 also terminates in a similar hole 34. The holes 32 and 34 are axially aligned transversely of the body member 2 and their common axis is parallel with the transverse wall 21 of the channel member 16.

A fulcrum pin 35 extends between the holes 32 and 34 in close working engagement with the side walls 6 and 7 and an operating lever 36 is attached by welding or the like to the underside of the centre of the pin 35, at rightangles to the axis thereof. The outer end 37 of the lever 36 is preferably bent in the vertical plane to form an operating handle, while the inner end 38 is curved upwards in the vertical plane to form, in effect, a cam device, adapted to pass through and act upon the bight 28 of the stem 24.

A light tension spring 39, having one end 40 caught in the loop 25 of the stem 24 at the attachment point 27 and the opposite end 41 passing through a hole 42 in the transverse wall 21 of the channel member 16, is adapted to bias the stem 24 outwards and to maintain the cam 38 in light, sliding contact with the inner surface of the bight 28.

A pair of guide plates 43 and 44 are attached by welding or the like to the inner surfaces of the inner ends of the side walls 6 and 7 respectively and act as extensions thereto. Their upper edges 45 and 46 respectively are horizontal and support the sides 29 and 30 of the loop 25 and, in conjunction with the undersurface of the transverse wall 21, serve to maintain the stem 24 in the horizontal plane while permitting its axial movement. Similarly, the retention of the sides 29 and 30 between the side walls 6 and 7, as heretofore described, maintains the stem 24 in the same vertical plane while permitting axial movement.

From FIGURE 1 it will be seen that, upon the handle 37 being in its lowest position, the cam 38 permits the spring 39 to move the stem 24 towards the outer end of the body member 2 and position the key 22 remote from the outer vertical edges 12 and 13 of the body 2.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the action of the device upon the handle 37 being moved upwards, the cam 38 acting upon the bight 28 to move the stem inwards and thereby to position the key 22 adjacent to the outer vertical edges 12 and 13 of the body 2.

Upon assembly, the fulcrum pin 35 is snapped into the holes 32 and 34 and the guide plates 43 and 44 are so positioned that they also serve to retain the pin 35 in position without affecting its operation.

The post 4 to which one or more shelf supports are adapted to be attached, is shown in FIGURES l as of double-channel cross section, in spaced vertical relation to support adjacent ends of two shelves in lengthwise alignment, is made of metal or other suitable material extruded, or otherwise formed, to provide a vertically elongated, flat-sided back 47 and channels 48 and 49 at opposite sides thereof, the channels being formed by lateral extensions 50 and 51 of the back extending in opposite directions at opposite edges of the back and inturned marginal parts 52 and 53 of said extensions. Theinturned marginal parts at opposite sides of the back terminate short of one another to provide vertical openings 54 and 55 of slightly greater width than the diameter of the head 23 of the locking key 22, so as to permit of the passage of said head, or heads, into and out of the appropriate channel when the body 2 is turned appropriately with respect to the post, as is shown in FIGURE 1, and the handle 37 is in its lowest position as described.

It will thus be seen that when the key of a shelf support is passed into a channel in a post and the body 2 is then turned to position the head of the key across the vertical opening in the post the outer vertical edges 12 and 13 of the body 2 will lie against the inturned margins at opposite sides of the said opening and the upper edges 8 and 9 of the body 2 will be supported at right angles to the post. Thereafter, upward movement of the handle 37 will draw the head 23 of the key 22 closer to the edges 12 and 13 of the body 2 and into abutting engagement with the internal surface of the wall 52, as shown in FIGURE 6, and thereby clamp the body 2 onto the post 4. It will be noted that the handle 37 is of lesser diameter than the vertical opening 54 and is in the same vertical plane, so that during the clamping action its outer end 56 is passed through the opening 54, thereby permitting a full arcuate movement of the handle 37 and protecting the handle 37 from inadvertent operation when in use.

In a preferred embodiment, the mating surfaces of the head 23 and the wall 52, shown in the figures as 57 and 58 respectively are horizontally ribbed to provide positive engagement when clamped together, the ribs being sufficiently closely spaced to permit a relatively fine height adjustment.

The covering member 5 is of sheet material and inverted U cross section. It is adapted to be a close sliding fit over the body member 2 and to act. as an extension to it. Upon final assembly it is preferably permanently attached to the body member 2 by welding or the like.

In FIGURE a modified structure is shown wherein a shelf support having a locking key at both ends is adapted to be attached at each end to a post. In this modification,

single shelves or as elements of a framework,

While I have shown and described herein the present preferred forms of construction and arrangements of parts for carrying out my invention, these are capable of variation and modification. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact construction and arrangements of parts herein described but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shelf support for attachment in right angular relation to a vertical channel-sectioned post comprising a back wall and lateral flanges at the side edges thereof having forwardly inturned flanges terminating short of each other to provide a vertical opening to said channel lengthwise of the post, the shelf support comprising parallel perpendicular side walls adapted at one end to abut said inturned flanges of the post, and a substantially U- shaped member comprising a base and side arms positioned between said perpendicular side Walls with its said base positioned intermediate the height of said perpendicular side walls and its arms paralleling same and fixed thereto, a substantially T-shaped key member comprising a head positioned outside the end of said support which is adapted to abut said flanges and a rigid stem extending inwardly between said perpendicular side walls, said stem having an inner end marginal part turned backwards to provide a bight having its entrance in a vertical plane, a fulcrum pin extending transversely of said perpendicular side walls of the shelf support and journaled for rotation therein, said pin being positioned below the base of said U-shaped member, means for moving said T-shaped member lengthwise to selectively move said head into and out of engagement with the inner faces of said lateral flanges of said channel-sectioned post, comprising a lever rigidly fixed near its one end to the under side of said fulcrum pin at right angles to the axis of said pin, said lever having an outer end part bent in the vertical plane and extending downwardly below said perpendicular side walls and provided with a handle, said lever having an inner end marginal part curved upwards in the vertical plane providing a cam part passing through and adapted to act upon the bight of the stern of said key member, and spring means yieldably urging said head in a direction away from engagement with said flanges.

2. A shelf support as defined in claim 1, wherein the opposing faces of said head and said inturned front flanges of said post are provided with ribs adapted for inter-engagement with each other into the erected condition of the shelf support.

3. A shelf support as defined in claim 1, characterised by guide plates secured on the inner faces of said perpendicular side plates below the stem of said key memher as supports to retain said stem in a horizontal plane. 4. A shelf support as defined in claim 1, characterised by a cover of substantially inverted U-shape in cross section fitting over the said perpendicular side members and secured thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,339 5/1935 Copeman 248-245 X 2,531,251 11/1950 Bruno 21l-176X 2,901,205 8/ 1959 Gredell 248245 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,521 3/1966 Canada.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SHELF SUPPORT FOR ATTACHMENT IN RIGHT ANGULAR RELATION TO A VERTICAL CHANNEL-SECTIONAL POST COMPRISING A BACK WALL AND LATERAL FLANGES AT THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF HAVING FORWARDLY INTURNED FLANGES TERMINATING SHORT OF EACH OTHER TO PROVIDE A VERTICAL OPENING TO SAID CHANNEL LENGTHWISE OF THE POST, THE SHELF SUPPORT COMPRISING PARALLEL PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS ADAPTED AT ONE END TO ABUT SAID INTURNED FLANGES OF THE POST, AND A SUBSTANTIALLY USHAPED MEMBER COMPRISING A BASE AND SIDE ARMS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS WITH ITS SAID BASE POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE HEIGHT OF SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS AND ITS ARMS PARALELING SAME AND FIXED THERETO, A SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED KEY MEMBER COMPRISING A HEAD POSITIONED OUTSIDE THE END OF SAID SUPPORT WHICH IS ADAPTED TO ABUT SAID FLANGES AND A RIGID STEM EXTENDING INWARDLY BETWEEN SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS, SAID STEM HAVING AN INNER END MARGINAL PART TURNED BACKWARDS TO PROVIDE A BIGHT HAVING ITS ENTRANCE IN A VERTICAL PLANE, A FULCRUM PIN EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS OF THE SHELF SUPPORT AND JOURNALED FOR ROTATION THEREIN, SAID PIN BEING POSITIONED BELOW THE BASE OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID T-SHAPED MEMBER LENGTHWISE TO SELECTIVELY MOVE SAID HEAD INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER FACES OF SAID LATERAL FLANGES OF SAID CHANNEL-SECTIONED POST, COMPRISING A LEVER RIGIDLY FIXED NEAR ITS ONE END TO THE UNDER SIDE OF SAID FULCRUM PIN AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE AXIS OF SAID PIN, SAID LEVER HAVING AN OUTER END PART BENT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BELOW SAID PERPENDICULAR SIDE WALLS AND PROVIDED WITH A HANDLE, SAID LEVER HAVING AN INNER END MARGINAL PART CURVED UPWARDS IN THE VERTICAL PLANE PROVIDING A CAM PART PASSING THROUGH AND ADAPTED TO ACT UPON THE BIGHT OF THE STEM OF SAID KEY MEMBER, AND SPRING MEANS YIELDABLY URGING SAID HEAD IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLANGES. 